Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek identified the victim as Harley A. Henning. Lysek determined, following an autopsy this morning, that Henning died of smoke inhalation.

The manner of death is pending completion of the investigation into the fire, Lysek said.

Fire companies from Northampton, Lehigh and Carbon counties battled the blaze at 443 Washington Dr., township police said in a news release. The two-story home, built in the 1900s, was engulfed in flames when police arrived about 11 p.m. Wednesday, they said.

"It had a good start before anyone noticed it was there," Lehigh Township fire Chief Richard Hildebrand said.

Firefighters had to contend with several challenges, including downed electrical wires and propane tanks on the porch, Hildebrand said.

"We did not hold back," he said. "But there was a big unknown."

The hissing propane tanks did not explode, Hildebrand said. And despite the small, single-lane road access to the home, crews had a steady water supply to work with, he said.

Patricia McCoy said her husband came home from work and saw light coming from the home of their next-door neighbor, Henning.

“He was calling for Harley,” she said of her husband. “There was light under the door. It was flickering. He came in and yelled to me, ‘Get dressed! Harley’s house is on fire!’”

McCoy said she grabbed their two Chihuahuas and headed out the door to see Henning's house in flames. She described Henning as a diligent yard worker with whom she’d chat while the two were pulling weeds on either side of the fence between their properties.

“He was already gone I guess,” McCoy said she realized as the fire grew in intensity and no one emerged from inside.

McCoy said part of her home was damaged from the heat, flames and smoke. But she was grateful her family had made it out
without harm.

“The wind had picked up and was making sparks everywhere,” McCoy said. “The firefighters were really good — putting out little fires that would start here and there.”

The second floor of Henning's home appeared to have caved in during the fire, McCoy said. When she saw authorities bring out a body this morning, McCoy said the man didn’t look as if he'd been burned.

“This is so sad,” she said.

The fire was under control by about 5:30 a.m., Hildebrand said, but trouble spots rekindled throughout the morning. He said crews cleared the scene after 10 o'clock this morning.

Police are being assisted in their investigation by the township fire marshal, a Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal and the coroner's office, police said.